Digital Media Body Challenges Modi Government’s Claim on Journalism Not Serving a Public Purpose

New Delhi-- An umbrella body for digital media organizations has challenged the Narendra Modi government’s claim that journalism does not serve a public purpose, terming it as “deeply disturbing and antithetical to the foundation of a democracy.” The government allegedly made this claim while canceling the non-profit status of two digital media platforms, the investigative journalism portal Reporters’ Collective and the File, a Kannada website.

The DIGIPUB News India Foundation, representing various digital media organizations, issued a statement condemning the government's stance. “Such a claim could be used to target other independent news outlets financially. If the government believes India is a democracy, not just one in name, it should retract this position,” the statement read.

Both the Reporters’ Collective and the File had their non-profit status canceled because the government allegedly reasoned that journalism is not a function that has a public purpose. These platforms have published reports critical of the Narendra Modi government, raising concerns about the motivation behind the cancellations.

On January 25, the Reporters’ Collective, a non-profit news organization, announced the cancellation of its non-profit status by the income-tax department in a statement released on its website. The Reporters’ Collective was launched in 2021 and has been a publicly funded non-profit trust since its inception. The statement read, “…the tax authorities have canceled our non-profit status, claiming journalism does not serve any public purpose and therefore cannot be carried out as a non-profit exercise in India.”

DIGIPUB highlighted the tax authorities’ comment on the Reporters’ Collective, stating that the income-tax department, in its order to the Delhi-based collective of reporters who do investigative journalism, mentioned that “the main aim of the trust is to promote and carry out journalism… the applicant has failed to justify as to how these activities are beneficial to the public at large.” This means that the Reporters’ Collective would no longer be exempt from paying taxes and could potentially be taxed retrospectively for the journalism the Income Tax department permitted them to do as a charitable organization in the first place.

The DIGIPUB News India Foundation also reminded the Narendra Modi government of India’s dismal track record in the world Press Freedom Index. “In a time when India’s press freedom index has plunged to its lowest ever and large swathes of the mainstream media have become the government’s cheerleaders, independent media outlets are questioning the government of the day and its policies,” the statement said. “Most of these outlets, which sustain themselves without government and commercial advertisements, are struggling financially. The government makes it difficult for them to survive by attacking them in myriad ways, legally and financially. It removes the last few spaces where the public can access critical coverage.”

In the world Press Freedom Index published annually by Reporters without Borders (RSF), India ranked 161 out of 180 countries in 2023. Last year, it moved two ranks up to 159, still well below neighbors Pakistan (152) and Sri Lanka (150). The decline in press freedom has raised alarms among journalists, activists, and international organizations, who argue that a free press is essential for a functioning democracy.

The cancellation of non-profit status for digital media platforms like the Reporters’ Collective and the File is seen as part of a broader trend of stifling independent journalism in India. Critics argue that the government’s actions are aimed at silencing dissent and controlling the narrative. The financial strain imposed on these organizations by revoking their non-profit status could lead to their closure, further reducing the diversity of voices in the media landscape.

The DIGIPUB News India Foundation’s challenge to the government’s claim underscores the importance of journalism in serving the public interest. Investigative journalism, in particular, plays a crucial role in holding power to account, exposing corruption, and informing citizens. By undermining the financial viability of independent media outlets, the government risks eroding the very foundation of democracy.

As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether the Modi government will reconsider its position on journalism’s public purpose. The outcome of this dispute will have far-reaching implications for press freedom and the future of independent journalism in India. The international community will be closely watching how this issue unfolds, as it reflects broader concerns about the state of democracy and human rights in the country.